Anglesey GPs back residential care plans

ANGLESEY GPs have voiced their support for controversial plans to transform residential care on the island.

A statement by Dr Stephen MacVicar on behalf of the island’s practices supported in principal Anglesey Council’s plans, which could slash the number of council-run homes from six to two as the authority seeks to save £14 million in three years.

Dr MacVicar said: “As it states in the document the majority of elderly people wish to remain in their existing home for as long as possible and have a strong desire to have control over their own lives.

“We fully appreciate that early intervention, re-ablement, and health and social care support provided in a person’s own home can help an elderly person maintain independence and prevent admission to hospital or other care institutions.”

The GPs backed investment in community-based services.

However, Dr MacVicar added many residents saw the facilities as their homes, and would strongly wish to stay, and praised care home staff.

He added: “Some of the residents have complex health needs and it is very difficult to envisage them being so well supported in a less protected environment without considerable additional expense.”

Dr MacVicar also raised concerns over potential losses of respite care beds and day care facilities.

He added: “We appreciate the need to change and re-model services particularly in the current financial climate.

"However we believe that there needs to be substantial initial investment in community services to provide increased support for people to live independently in their own homes before wholesale closure of residential care homes can be safely undertaken.”

Anglesey Council’s director of community Gwen Carrington who said she would discuss the GPs’ concerns with them later this month, added: “I’d stress that no decision has yet been taken on the future of our six Council-run residential homes and would encourage other interested parties to make their views known before the consultation process ends on December 7.

“We have already started to collate responses and review a range of questions received.

“We’ll also be considering various work streams arising from issues identified during the course of the consultation.”